Hab. 3:17-18 17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines ,though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. NIV

Many of us lose the joy of our Christian walk in Christ Jesus, due to circumstances. This should not be. Our inner peace and joy should not depend on everything going “right,” but on the solid knowledge that God loves us, and will provide.

The best way to express joy, is to be excited to find out how God is going to conquer our circumstances. You see, it is up to Him, because H has promised to provide for us.

After all, I have found that we learn so much more by what Christ has denied us than what He has given us. Would you excuse a personal illustration?

Just last Spring, as we were headed from AZ to our home in Iowa, we received a telephone call from our daughter, stating that our house had been robbed. Many things had been taken, and all of our drawers had been emptied out, jewelry stolen, door torn off the house, etc.etc.

My first reaction was not happiness, but as I absorbed the shock, the joy began to surface. God allowed this to happen when we were not in the house. The trauma would have been so much greater, if we had been there. We had a son in law that was going to fix the door so that it wouldn’t allow anything else to come into the house, our daughter was doing what she could, and getting reports to the sherrif dept. and insurance company, as we couldn’t possibly get home for 2 more days.

When we did arrive, it appeared as if the thieves had been frightened away, as there were groups of antiques sitting here and there, which seemed to indicate that the intentions had been to take these things also.

Well, everything we have belongs to God. He had supplied what we had, and I praise Him that He protected some of it for us to use.

When God is in control, we are truly blessed. Oh yes, there were many things taken, but this world is not our home, and we have so much more in Christ.

I would never have had this opportunity to examine my heart, had this circumstance never taken place.

Psalms 13:6 I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.

Covenant with God that you will look for the good in each circumstance of life, and He will reward you many times above what has been lost.

“Above the circumstances” is where we will find Jesus.

Satan would have us fret, when things don’t go our way;
But Jesus helps us praise, and face another day.
He’s always there to cheer us, and help us not to stray.
Reach out and grasp the blessings, He sends in great array.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW

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